India captain Suryakumar Yadav has cleared the air around Abhishek Sharma's availability for the high-octane T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan. Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that Abhishek is fit to play the all-important match, which is scheduled to be played on February 14 in Colombo.
Abhishek Sharma to play India vs Pakistan clash
"Abhishek is okay. If Pakistan want us to play Abhishek, then we can play him tomorrow," Suryakumar said at the pre-match press conference.
Abhishek missed the India versus Namibia clash due to stomach issue. However, following a week of health challenges, Abhishek has successfully recovered and returned to full fitness. He has already resumed active training sessions, signaling his readiness for the upcoming high-stakes encounter against Pakistan. In the star southpaw's absence, Sanju Samson came out to open innings for India. But with Abhishek coming in, Samson will once again be seen warming the bench, given his not so impressive outing with the bat off late.
Suryakumar disclosed Abhishek's confirmation after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha's remark on the India opener.
"I really hope - we all know he is a good player, and I really hope he plays tomorrow because we want to play against the best team they have, and I really hope he is recovering well and can play tomorrow," Agha said at the pre-match presser.
Abhishek's return, a big boost for Team India
Abhishek’s return to the squad is a significant boost for Team India. Over the past two years, Abhishek has established himself as a fixture at the top of the order, providing the aggressive starts India needs. His confidence against Pakistan is particularly high, following a stellar run in the 2025 Asia Cup where he was named Player of the Tournament. His match-winning performances in those high-stakes encounters have made him a vital asset for the Men in Blue.
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